Spares Availability?

I've yet again received a faulty JTV59 (stuck push-switch on the model selector). A previous guitar with a dead variax-circuit was written off as unrepairable by the L6 distributor. Repairing it should have been very simple with access to spares so this can only mean that even a L6-partner distributor is unable to get parts. Where does this leave a variax-owner once the warranty runs out? I'm hoping that someone with some insight into the L6 logistics-chain can contribute some information about the availability of spare-parts. Although I like the guitar when it works I see no point in hanging on to an instrument that can not be repaired (preferably by myself as with the rest of my guitar collection) in the future if necessary. I may ask for my money back instead of a repair/replacement this time.

Historically, Line 6 has basically had no spares, except for the piezo pickups. That means for variaxes, you needed to buy a second hand one for the electronics, or pay a LIne 6 repairer to fix it. That wasn't so bad in the past as they had cheap Variaxes, which you could then pickup second hand on eBay. Not so for the JTVs. So basically, unless it's something really easy, you can't fix them yourself. It is a computer at the end of the day.

That being said, a common fault with the model selector switch is that the shaft is too short for the knob, so the knob slides down until it bottoms out on the guitar, thus stopping the switch from working. The common solution is to take the knob off, and put a thin slice of cardboard, or plastic under the knob to act as a spacer. This seems to work. I would have thought Line 6 would have fixed this by now, but maybe not. Or maybe you got a re-stock.

There is absolutely no excuse for not having replacement parts for something like a JTV. I can see not selling them outright but any repair center should have access to them. If they do not then Line6 is not supporting their products in the field properly.

there is a big difference between what they sell directly to the consumer and what is available to their service centers.

There is absolutely no excuse for not having replacement parts for something like a JTV. I can see not selling them outright but any repair center should have access to them. If they do not then Line6 is not supporting their products in the field properly.

Yes - Line 6 has official parts suppliers, distinct from their service centers, in every region. I have ordered almost every Variax 300 part from my local parts supplier except for the internal electronics All external and plugin components are (or at least were) available. This includes the piezos and the underlying circuit board, pickup selector switch, VDI and 1/4" jack assembly (all of which have ribbon connections to the internal circuit boards), bridge, knobs, and pickguard.

The internal circuit boards and items directly soldered to those boards (e.g. the pots) are only available if you buy the guitar - an IP decision on the part of Line 6.

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Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans..... John Lennon

That being said, a common fault with the model selector switch is that the shaft is too short for the knob, so the knob slides down until it bottoms out on the guitar, thus stopping the switch from working. The common solution is to take the knob off, and put a thin slice of cardboard, or plastic under the knob to act as a spacer. This seems to work. I would have thought Line 6 would have fixed this by now, but maybe not. Or maybe you got a re-stock.

I've notices this issue, but it isn't the problem I've got. The switch sticks in the down-position, and operating it even without a knob on the shaft changes nothing. Raising the knob on the shaft wont change a thing. When stuch it can be pulled back out without too much force. It is only in the custom1-position that the on/off-switch pops back out by itself. I hoped it would get better with some wear, but after a few weeks it only seems to get worse.

there is a big difference between what they sell directly to the consumer and what is available to their service centers.

If that is the case I wonder why my first JTV59 could not be repaired. I had spent $400 on a plek-job (fret levelling) so I told the distributor I really preferred to have it repaired instead of getting a new one. I also had a look inside, and the modular construction with little ribbon-connected circuitboards makes it trivial to repair if there are spares available. It took them 3-1/2 months to produce a replacement which should be more than enough time to ship parts all the way from Korea to Europe by boat if necessary.

Can't speak to your specific case... unfortunately, but i do see where you would be upset by their path forward... PLEKing ain't cheap.

I would have asked them to pay to get the new one PLEK'd, or something myself so i know where you're coming from...

i just don't know the decision making process on yours... sometimes it has to do with various laws, or simple logistics based on global locations...

If that is the case I wonder why my first JTV59 could not be repaired. I had spent $400 on a plek-job (fret levelling) so I told the distributor I really preferred to have it repaired instead of getting a new one. I also had a look inside, and the modular construction with little ribbon-connected circuitboards makes it trivial to repair if there are spares available. It took them 3-1/2 months to produce a replacement which should be more than enough time to ship parts all the way from Korea to Europe by boat if necessary.